BEVERLY HILLS, March 28, (THEWILL) – After the 1-0 victory over the Squirrels of the Republic of Benin on the penultimate Group L match of the TOTAL African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying series at the Charles de Gaulle Stadium in Porto-Novo on Saturday, the Super Eagles of Nigeria joined a cast of 16 African countries that had booked their slot in the continental tournament to be played in Cameroon next year.
The three-time AFCON champions became the 17th nation to confirm their spot at the 33rd edition of the biennial international men’s football championship of Africa organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). They joined hosts Cameroon, Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Gabon, Gambia and Morocco on the list of qualified teams. The rest are Egypt, Comoros, Algeria, Zimbabwe, Senegal, Tunisia, Equatorial Guinea and Ivory Coast.
Before the clash with the Squirrels, the Super Eagles were through for the AFCON because the day’s opening Group L game saw Lesotho and Sierra Leone play to a goalless stalemate in their afternoon clash at Setsotso Stadium in Maseru, Lesotho.
It was not a result that favoured either team as the second draw between the teams in the group, after a 1-1 stalemate in Freetown back in November 2019, confirmed the elimination of the hosts. It also ensured Nigeria’s qualification, a situation made sweeter when the Super Eagles later brought an end to the Béninoise eight-year unbeaten home record.
The Squirrels stubbornly held on to that throughout and just as it looked like it was going to hold for another period against one of Africa’s biggest squads, substitute Paul Onuachu rose highest to nod in an injury-time winner and break Béninoise hearts across the host country.
The loss means for Benin to secure an AFCON berth and join the class of qualified countries at next year’s event, they will have to get a point in the final Group L match away to Sierra Leone on Tuesday, 30 March in Freetown.
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Qualification matches for AFCON are down to the final games in all the groups and pick up on Sunday, 28 March with five matches across the continent. The headlining fixture is a crunch clash in Group C between Sudan and South Africa in Omdurman, with Bafana Bafana locked on 10 points with Ghana.
Meanwhile, the Benin case for qualifying in Group L keeps interest in the last outcome strong heading into the final matchday.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
